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All true... but my point is that Disney has changed in the last 10 years or so, and that it now requires much more planning. The parks themselves haven't really changed (an attraction added or subtracted here and there) but the crowds have increased (mostly in Magic Kingdom) and FP+ and ADRs now...

Sigh... I remember. We used to arrive on Thanksgiving and go into the parks just to people watch. We'd sit on a bench and watch the crowds in amazement. Then Sunday would arrive... and you could just feel everyone relax. The crowds were gone and the cast members were happy and relieved. The...

We're doing our part. We've gone from 2-3 trips a year to 1 trip every other year or so. The whole experience has changed so much that it's not the WDW I remember. It's still a unique and fun experience, but it's no longer the Magical vacation it once was - and no longer something I want to do...

I would be even more bummed if I was a local. There was a time when we'd wake our kids up early on vacation and ask them "What park do you want to do today?" and based on their answer, that's where we'd go. We'd get there at park open and ride stuff, grab paper FPs along the way. We did...

I feel the same way... I get frustrated because the WDW experience has slipped considerably and many people don't realize it (maybe because it's there first trip, maybe because in their eyes Disney never does anything wrong, etc). Sometimes I feel like I'm pointing out the obvious to people who...

Is Disney a good vacation value? Until recently I've always argued that it is, because while you spend a lot you get a tremendous amount in return. But in recent years things have changed. Waiting in lines isn't my idea of fun. Getting an additional "day of" FP for something that was always a...

That's awesome! In general, cast members are outstanding and still go out of their way to make sure you have a great time. If you talk to them privately they may tell you that they aren't crazy about some of the changes Disney has made recently either, but most of them set their frustrations...

Speaking for myself, it is my passion for Disney that fuels my current negativity. The whole vision that Walt had, that there should be a place where kids and parents can have fun together, has had such a tremendous impact on my children. No matter how crazy our lives got, we would take breaks...

It seems many people agree with my view that the old Disney Marketplace is still cool (with the World of Disney store) but the new Disney Springs outdoor mall is really just that - an upscale outdoor mall that's not very unique, with a few decent (and pricey) restaurants and a good cupcake spot...

I had a friend do this, telling the child "If they ask, tell them you're 2." and the child said, "But I'm 3!" and they were in an argument as they walked up to the gates because the child was honest and didn't feel comfortable lying. It was sad. :(

I don't disagree... and I love Epcot too. If you're doing a week or 10-day vacation and spending long days in Epcot exploring all that it has to offer (which is less than it used to offer, but I digress) then you can look at F&W as a nice bonus. That said, many people plan trips specifically for...

I love F&W. But my eyes were opened recently when I chose not to attend a food & craft beer festival because I felt the cover charge was too high (it was like $20). I realized that I'm paying $100ish to get into Epcot - and the craft beer selection isn't even that great, and the cost of the beer...

It's definitely a fair point... the 90s were a very cool time as new attractions and resorts were constant. I remember watching Splash Mountain rise up over Magic Kingdom and being so excited to ride it - and then having my expectations exceeded (and in fact, blown away) the first time I rode...

We have written emails to voice our concerns and to their credit, Disney has listened carefully to us. But it feels like the issues are way too large to be "fixed" easily - there are many factors going into how Disney is running the parks these days. As others have said, the most effective...

This feels absolutely 100% correct to me. But it seems like the strategy is failing, perhaps because Disney lacks the courage to commit 100% to it. As a DVC member, I could afford higher park prices since my accommodations are covered. If the higher prices meant lower crowds that would be a...

A fair question and since I've been pretty negative lately I'll take a shot at a reply. First off, we have dramatically cut our Disney trips from 2-3 times a year to once every other year (and we may cut further). I keep going because I hope to find some of the magic that I used to get at WDW. I...

I was thinking the same thing, and it makes perfect sense and works for everyone - if you don't want to pay more for the party, don't... if you do, then you get to enjoy the parks with a lower crowd level. The only flaw in this logic is that they are shortening the regular park hours to...

^THIS. Some may compare Disney to other hotels and give them high marks, but I compare Disney to the Disney of old, the Disney I fell in love with, and it does NOT compare favorably at all. And as I always point out, the cost has gone way up (far beyond the rate of inflation) so the VALUE you're...

^THIS. People are comparing a Disney vacation to Universal, Europe, and other destinations. I compare a WDW vacation today to the WDW vacation I took 5, 10, 15, 20 years ago. The value has indeed gone down. Reduced hours (including MK evenings closed for private ticket events in the Fall)...

And I think that explains a lot. In the 90s and 2000s Disney created legions of loyal fans... many of whom became addicts (myself included). Disney recognizes this and now looks to leverage that loyalty into income for the company. From a business perspective I don't necessarily blame them, but...